The Implications of Professionalism
Jillian Johnson
Graduate Student
Department of Exercise Physiology
The College of St. Scholastica
Duluth, MN 55811
“All professionals share the same professional base, an accredited
academic degree.” -- William T. Boone
Professionalism is a very important topic. The definition of professionalism
is a commitment to one’s work and an orientation towards service rather
than personal profit [1]. A patient would like to believe that all
healthcare workers are professional. A patient trusts his/her medical
care to the professional and should not have to fear unqualified and negligent
professionals. Negligence is defined as the failure to conform one’s conduct
to a generally accepted standard of conduct or duty. Here lies the
problem because there is no defined standard of conduct until the founding
of the American Society of Exercise Physiologists [2].
Having numerous and different kinds of exercise science and exercise
physiology programs across the country further complicates the problem.
In fact, The College of St.Scholastica has one of only a few actual academic-degreed
exercise physiology program in the United States. The rest of the
programs throughout the colleges and universities are kinesiology, exercise
science, or human performance programs. They are not exercise physiology
programs of study. This is a huge problem for students who want to
be an exercise physiologist.
These programs may be good programs, but without a standardized and
credible curriculum, there is no way to be absolutely sure. Accreditation
plays an important role in standardization. ASEP is now in the process
of accrediting exercise physiology programs. This is a big step towards
the future development of exercise physiology. It is only common sense
that exercise physiologists need to be properly educated to work in exercise
physiology as an emerging healthcare profession. Certification is
also important to professionalism and professional development. It
shows that the candidate can actually demonstrate specific skills.
This is currently done by the EPC (Exercise Physiologist Certified) exam,
which includes a practical and written component [3, 4].
ASEP has emerged as an organization for the exercise physiologist, but
exercise physiologists need to leave sports medicine and join their own
professional organization. Before ASEP there was no code of ethics
[5]. How can an exercise physiologist be held accountable when there
is no standard to which exercise physiologists are held? This is
why licensed nurses and physical therapists are taking our jobs.
They appear to be more credible with certification and licensure.
This is also why ASEP is working hard to get licensure for exercise physiologists
[6].
Exercise physiologists can treat a variety of patients in the healthcare
realm including: (1) cardiac; (2) pulmonary; (3) diabetic; (4) patients
with orthopedic problems, osteoporosis, depression; and (5) other ailments.
We need to get involved in these area before other established professions
keep us from doing so do their updated licensure laws. We need to
step up and create healthcare programs and show the public that we are
more than qualified for the job. Even cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
is presently being taken over by nurses and physical therapists, who are
generally less qualified and know less about cardiovascular physiology
than exercise physiologists.
In conclusion, professionalism is a vital part of the future of exercise
physiology. Without a professional organization like ASEP exercise
physiology will certainly lose it’s niche in the healthcare field.
It this were to happen, the only exercise physiologists who would benefit
are the academic professors who do research and attend meetings and conferences.
The public can definitely benefit from the rehabilitative and patient education
services we can provide. Students from all across the United States
must get involved in the professional development of exercise physiology
by joining the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.
References
1. Boone, T. (2001). Professional Development of Exercise Physiology.
Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press.
2. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2004). ASEP Home Page.
[Online]. http://www.asep.org/
3. American Society of Exercise Physiologist. (2004). Board of
Accreditation for Exercise Physiologists. [Online]. http://www.exercisephysiologists.com/boardofaccreditation/index.html
4. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2004). Board of Certification
for Exercise Physiologists. [Online]. http://www.exercisephysiologists.com/boardofcertification/index.html
5. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2004). Code of Ethics.
[Online]. http://www.asep.org/ethics.htm
6. American Society of Exercise Physiologists. (2004). Board of Licensure
for Exercise Physiologists. [Online]. http://www.exercisephysiologists.com/boardoflicensure/index.html